Archive for the ‘Sports Time Radio’ Category

Jake versus Jake

Posted: May 21, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs head west to San Francisco for a three game series that starts with Jake Arreita taking on Jake Peavy.  Dexter Fowler would lead off with a line drive single to left.  Peavy would then walk Heyward. Two men on, Kris Bryant sends a ground ball to third allowing Matt Duffy to force out Dexter.  Rizzo and Zobrist would fly out to end the inning with no runs.  Denard Span would send a fly ball about to right that would be chased down by Heyward who would make an amazing catch diving into the wall but he wouldn’t get up.  When he finally gets to his feet, the baseball crowd that are Giants fans give him an ovation, we all hope everything’s ok.  The injury delay would take Arrieta a little off his game walking Joe Panik. Duffy would fly out and Posey would send a grounder back to The Great One ending the first.  

Top two is lead off with a single by Soler then another by Montero.  Baez would try a suprise bunt to get on but is caught on a close play would be challenged but would be upheld as a sac bunt.  Arreita would help his own cause with a line drive to Center scoring Soler.  Peavy would walk Fowler to load the bases.  Tommy La Stella sends a line drive off the wall directly back to Hunter Pence, Montero would score but Jake would get caught up and tagged out at third for the second out with Fowler on third.  But that’s okay because Kris Bryant would send a 3 run homer to left!  Rizzo would single with the shift on and that would be all for Peavy.  Derrick Law replaces him to end the inning and hold the Cubs in the third.  Cubs up by 5. 

Jake the Great would have an easy 2cd but would give up a lead off single to Angel Pagan to lead off the third who then steals second and scores the Giants first run on Joe Panik’s single to right.  Matt Duffy would do the same pushing Panik to third. Buster Posey would send a long fly to left but just low enough for Soler to catch it on the wall to end the inning. 

Albert Suarez would come into the fourth, he’d put Fowler on by hitting him but that would be all the action.  The Great One would breeze through the bottom half. Suarez would do the same in the top half of the fifth and sixth. 

In the bottom of the 5th with one out, Pagan would reach on a single to third and steal second base again but Jake gets out of the inning.  Then grabs a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th.  Illinois native, from the Palos area, George Kontos comes into the 7th for a 1-2-3 inning for the books.  Jake would put a runner on but get out of the 7th.  

Kontos remains in the eighth gets the first batter out but gives up a monster home run to Ben Zobrist into McCovey Cove.  Then Soler would send one to left, back to back home runs in the eighth.  But would get out of the inning.  Cubs up 7-1.  

Travis Wood in for the bottom of the eighth gives up a double but no runs to the opposition.  Cory Gearrin enters the top of the ninth against Addison Russell striking he and the next batter out but David Ross comes into the doubling off the wall in right. Bryant hits a chopper up the middle scoring Ross.  Gearrin would exit for number 49 Javier Lopez, who would end the inning but the Cubs add one more to make it 8-1.   Clayton Richard comes in the bottom half of the ninth to bring an end to the Giants 8 game win streak.  Go Cubs Go!!!

@danzeeeman

#ItsJustMay

Posted: May 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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In the last game of the series in Milwaukee the Cubs Jason Hammell takes on Junior Guerra in his 4th start of the season.  Dexter Fowler leads the game off with his 4th Home Run of the season to right field.  A walk to Rizzo would be all the action for the Cubs but they’re up 1-0.  Hammel has a perfect in the bottom half. 

Guerra starts off the second against Jorge Soler and gives up a double.  Russell K’s but Montero sends a line drive to left scoring Soler!  Hammel strikes out to end the inning.  Hammel would return the favor, striking out Chris Carter to leadoff the bottom half.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis would single and move over to second when Hernan Perez walks.  Montero would try to pick off Kirk but a throwing error would send him to third. He would then score on a wild pitch by Hammel. 2-1 Cubs.  

Both men would make it through the third with just one base runner.  Guerra would have a perfect top of 4 but Hammel on a 1 and 1 count would toss one up for Chris Carter who ties the game with a line drive to center field.  After 4 it’s a tie game.  

Both men would have a solid fifth inning with Jason Hammel getting the only hit of the inning.  Guerra would walk Zobrist in the sixth.  Scooter Gennett would single on a line drive to Soler but Carter would go down swinging.  With one man on Kirk would take Hammel deep to center for his second home run of the season.  After 6, it’s the Brewers 4, Cubs 2. 

With one out, Miguel Montero would send one to center field but not for a home run but it’s a three bagger.  With two outs Fowler would step in looking to drive in Montero but he wouldn’t need to do much because Guerra would throw a wild pitch, Miguel would score and Fowler would end the inning with a fly out to left.  Cubs get within one, 3-4. 

Justin Grimm comes into the bottom half of 7, gets two batters out, gives up a single and is replaced by Clayton Richard, who gets the last out.  Michael Blazek comes in for the Brew Crew gets the first two outs but then walks Rizzo who moves to third on Ben Zobrist’s double.  Niether would score as Soler strikes out to end the inning. 

Clayton Richard stays is only to be pulled after giving up a hit to Scooter. Trevor Cahill would come in to get the next two batters out. Two outs man on second, Hernan singles to center scoring Scooter to put the Crew up by two. The next two batters are walked one intentionally.  Now we have Jonathan Lucroy pinch hitting for the pitcher with two outs but Cahill calms down and gets him out on strikes to end the inning.  

Tyler Thornberg comes in for the save opportunity giving much hope to the boys in blue walking both Russell and Montero.  After a visit to the mound, Tyler calms down and gets Javier Baez to strike out.  Fowler flys out on a deep fly ball to right and Heyward goes down swinging to end the game.  The Brewers take two out of three. Call it what you may but the high scoring bats have come down to earth but in the end #ItsJustMay

@danzeeeman
The Podcast

A pitchers Brewal

Posted: May 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs would like to redeem themselves after last nights loss.  John Lackey would take on Milwaukees 26 year old right handed Jimmy Nelson.  He would start the game with a perfect 1st inning but would load the bases in the 2cd with two outs.  Zobrist singled, La Stella doubled and they intentionally walked Ross but Lackey would strikeout to end the inning.  Lackey would walk the first batter of the game but would get the next three batters and it would be smooth sailing until the 4th.  With one out Jonathan Lucroy would double to right. Chris Carter would strikeout and with the next batter in the box, David Ross would pick off Lucroy to end the inning. 

Lackey would run into trouble in the bottom of the 5th with a leadoff double to Kirk Nieuwenhuis and then a single to Domingo Santana.  Alex Presley would ground into a force out scoring Kirk. Lackey would get out of the inning.  In the bottom of the sixth he would give up a hit to Scooter Gennett.  With two outs Scooter would take to large of a lead putting him in a rundown to be caught stealing by David Ross.  

Through 7 innings the Cubs would get some baserunners but no one would cross the plate.  After 7 it would be Cubs 0, Brewers 1.  Lackey would come out for the bottom of the seventh, Adam Warren takes his place puts a runner on but gets out of the inning pretty easily.  

Nelson would stay in the game for the 8th getting the first man out but breathes life into the Cubs fans in Miller Park with a double to Jorge Soler. With Fowler at the plate and a wild pitch sends Soler to third.  Fowler would walk and that results in a pitching change.  Tyler Thornburg comes in and shuts down any chance the Cubs had at taking the league.  

Justin Grimm comes into the bottom of the 8th, getting the first two batters to watch strike three.  Jonathan Villar would walk and again with Scooter up at bat David Ross would triple out another runner to end the inning.  Still a 1-0 game.  

Jeremy Jeffress would come into close out the game starting with the man he ended last nights game, hits Anthony Rizzo.  Baez would come into pinch run with Zobrist at the plate.  Zobrist knocks one to right, making this game interesting.   La Stella would ground out to second moving the batters up.  Addison Russell would ground out also to second but scoring Baez.  The Brewers walk Montero to bring up Tim Federowicz to end the inning with a strikeout.  The game is tied at 1!

Pedro Strop comes into the bottom half to get a 1-2-3 inning.  Michael Blazek comes into the 10th striking out Fowler, giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant.  Baez would get the force out and Zobrist would ground out to end the inning.  

We go into extra innings.  The Cubs would strike hot in the 10th with two base runners but no runs.  Pedro Strop would make it just as exciting with a walk and single but gets Ramon Flores out on a called third strike.  In the 11th, Russell would double but again no runs.  

Pedro Strop entered in the bottom of the 11th having a solid 1-2-3 inning.  Fowler would lead off the 12th with a single but would be forced out on Heyward’s single to short stop.  He would be caught stealing 2nd base, Maddon would challenge but it’s upheld.  Bryant flies out to end the inning.  Hector Rondon comes into the bottom half putting Chris Carter on first due to an error, then walks the next batter prompting a pitcher change.  Travis Wood loads the bases with another walk but puts it all together to stop anyone from crossing the plate.  

The top of 13, with one out Zobrist grabs a single off Carlos Torres who beans Tommy La Stella.  He strikes out Russell for out number 2.  They intentionally walk Montero to get to pitcher Travis Wood. This completely backfires as he scores an RBI walk. Fowler lines out but Cubs up 2-1. Wood stays in giving up s double to Villar but gets Scooter to ground out. Maddon goes to the pen bringing in Neil Ramirez who makes it exciting.  A wild pitch moves Villar to third then a walk to Lucroy but after the big K to Carter, Maddon relieves him from duty.  Clayton Richard comes in for the save and gets Kirk Nieuwenhuis to ground out to end the game.  

Now the bullpen did make the game exciting at times but held it together when the Cubs bats were silenced.  Whether it’s by 10 or 1 run, a wins a win. 

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

Not much Brewing for the Cubs 

Posted: May 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs head to Wrigley Field North or as The Brewers would call it, Miller Park.  It actually is a great park to visit.  Carlos Zambrabo threw his no-hitter there against the Astros. 

The Cubs would be shut down perfectly through 4 by Brewers pitcher Chase Anderson.  Kyle Hendricks on the other hand, would have a perfect 1st, but walks leadoff Jonathan Lucroy to start off the second but gets the next three out.  He gets Braun to ground out to lead off the fourth but gives up a monster home run to Lucroy putting the Brew Crew up by 1.  

The Cubs would continue to be shut down until afte the first batter in the top of the sixth, when  Miguel Montero walks and steals second but that would be all the action. In the bottom half Kyle would set up Ryan Braun with two men on he smacks a single to right field adding another run to the Brewers scoreboard.  He would get Lucroy to pop out to Montero but Chris Carter would send a line drive to right center for a double driving both men in.  This would prompt Maddon to bring in Trevor Cahill to strike out the last two batters to end the inning.  He would come back for a perfect seventh.  

Chase Anderson would give up his first hit of the game a double to leadoff man Ben Zobrist but he’d shut them down again.  Cahill comes back for the bottom half and it’s perfect again.  Anderson would come back out to finish the game he started getting the first two outs.  Jason Heyward on an 0-2 count gets a hold of one sending it to right center for his first home run of the season. On a 1-0 count Kris Bryant would get a hold of one and send it to left field for his 7th homer of the season.  Jeremy Jeffres would come into the game with a save opportunity with two outs Rizzo comes to the plate looking to make it 3 home runs in a row but he goes down swinging. Cubs lose 4-2.  

I know it’s another loss but Anderson was on tonight and there was absolutely nothing to be done about it.  The silver lining of course was Cahill’s performance.  Entering the game in the bottom half of the sixth pitching lights out baseball for 2 2/3 innings could have asked for more.  Let’s get them tomorrow!

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

It’s just one loss

Posted: May 15, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs wrap up the weekend series against the Pirates with John Lester facing Garett Cole who’s seeking his 4th win of the season like Lester.  Today’s match up would be another pitchers duel.  I know that everyone loves high scoring, home run smashing games but my favorite to watch are these battles.  I usually keep my opinion out of this but win or lose I love these games.   

The first 6 innings would see Lester shutting down the third place Bucs aside from a walk to David Freese in the first and a walk in the second to Framcisco Cervelli. The Cubs would start off with a leadoff double by Dexter Fowler for his 14th of the year.  That would be all until Addison Reed singles in the second and again until Ben Zobrist’s double in the fourth.  The fifth and sixth innings would be 1-2-3 innings for Cole.  Just three hits through 6 with no runs is today, not at all common place for the Cubs.  

Lester would continue his battle in the 7th making it exciting with a one out single to Starling Marte but would strike out Cervelli.  With two outs Jung Ho Kang would send a fly ball to Heyward that would turn into an RBI double prompting Maddon to pull Lester after 109 pitches through 6 2/3.   Adam Warren would come into close the inning out but would start with a walk.  Maddon would decide to have Warren intentional walk Gregory Polanco to get to Gerrit Cole.  He would ground into a force out to end the inning but would come into the bottom half and shut the Cubs down once again.  

Pedro Strop would come into the 8th giving up a single to Jody Mercer but would get the next three batters out, no problem.   Cole would stay in for the bottom half and all attempts by the Cubs to come back would be shut down.  

Hector Rondon would come into the ninth and immediately strikes out Cervelli.  The only run of the game was driven in by Jung Ho Kang, with one out he would send a fly ball to left center for his 4th home run of the season.  Josh Harrison would single and Polanco would walk again. Travis Wood replaces Rondon as Matt Joyce pinch hits for Cole. Wood gets the out but Maddon pulls him for Justin Grimm who walks Mercer but strikes out McCutchen.  Cubs down 2-0.  

Pirates closer Mark Melancon comes in for the save opportunity but walks Fowler and gives up a single to Heyward.  Bryant would fly out for the first out.  Rizzo would send a fly ball to right that’s scored as a sac fly scoring Fowler.  Zobrist comes to the plate for an opportunity to tie the game or get a walk off homer.  Heyward would steal second to prevent a force.  Zobrist with two outs would hit a ground ball to second ending the game.  

Now I know it’s a loss in the books but I still think it was a great outing for Jon Lester and the versatility of the bullpen.  Joel Maddon has 162 games to figure out how the bullpen works for the playoffs.  With the way they are playing, I feel there is no doubt that they will be in the playoffs and he needs to figure out this bullpen.  Again, I know it’s a loss but Cubs fans, take it easy, #ItsJustMay

@danzeeeman
The Podcast

A Little More Rope

Posted: May 15, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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If you are a San Francisco Giants fan, you will remember the off-season comments being tossed around concerning the acquisition of Jeff Samardzija, also known as The Shark.

“His 4.96 ERA last season [2015] was the worst of his career.”
“Look at that 6.86 K/9 ratio; what’s up with that besides walks?”

“He reached career highs in hits allowed (228), earned runs (118) and home runs (29), while posting an 11-13 record in 32 starts.”

“He plunked a dozen batters in 2015…” 

Samardzija himself said, “I was tipping my pitches.”

During one fatal stretch leading up to his two final starts of the 2015 season, he went 1-8 with a 9.24 ERA, giving up a career-high ten earned runs to Oakland on September 15th, in a 17-6 loss.

To many fans it seemed as though the Giants were somewhat bottom-fishing, especially after losing the prize, Zack Greinke, who signed with Arizona. Granted, Johnny Cueto is a star[fish], which is why The Shark’s signing paled in comparison.
On this date in 2015, Samardzija was 2-2, with a 4.88 ERA, almost exactly what it would turn out to be for the season (4.96). Today, he is 5-2 and his ERA is a svelte 2.88, while his WHIP is a minuscule 1.12.
Whereas we are only approaching the one-quarter mark, Samardzija seems to get better each time he takes the mound. Friday night’s eight-inning effort saw him yield six singles, a Jake Lamb double, and the first career triple by starting pitcher Shelby Miller.
In all Friday, at Chase Field in Arizona, he surrendered one earned run, walked none and struck out three. Earlier in the season he pitched eight full innings of two-run ball in Colorado. Those who said he “would have to post decent numbers, pitching in AT&T Park,” are correct to a certain extent. 
They just ought not to have shortchanged him. 

So why the difference and more importantly, how were the Giants able to figure out-over the winter-that they could expect this kind of production from The Shark in 2016?
According to Nick Doran, who wrote a piece over the offseason for the Dynasty Guru, it includes several small negatives, which combined to create the bigger discrepancies. Doran listed the move from the National League to the American League as one reason, because Samardzija had to face a designated hitter each game, instead of the pitcher a couple of times per game.
Next Doran mentioned the shift from Wrigley Field to U.S. Cellular, which he called “a tougher place for pitchers.” He then went on to talk about the White Sox having the 28th Defensive Efficiency Ratio, which when compared to the defense of San Francisco, cannot be glossed over.

Doran elected to disregard the speculation about pitch-tipping, because he felt that it was impossible for all of the other clubs to be aware of it, without the Sox also having that information. It’s just too hard to keep something like that under a team’s radar because bad news travels faster than an Aroldis Chapman fastball.

What he thought more likely to have contributed to 2015’s shaky season, was the fact that Samardzija doubled the use of his cutter, while simultaneously reducing the number of times he used his sinker. The results played havoc with his career stats and the Giants were astute enough to be able to make that observation and draw their own conclusions.

With one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, in Dave Righetti, the Giants felt certain that they could get Samardzija back on the winning track. One-fourth of the season does not a full year make, but at least the issues that plagued The Shark last season, have not reared their ugly heads so far and bitten him in the backside.

In fact the combined stellar starts of all three of the rotation’s top pitchers, including Madison Bumgarner (4-2, 2.72 ERA) and Johnny Cueto (5-1, 2.97 ERA) have given manager Bruce Bochy a little more rope, when it comes to not hanging himself on the decision to stick with Jake Peavy and Matt Cain.

Both pitchers are gaining confidence and throwing better than they have at any time so far this season. Peavy’s effort Saturday night in Arizona, was his best start of the season, and that followed Cain’s last start against the Toronto Blue Jays, also his best effort, even if it was in a losing effort.
Better to encounter technical difficulties early in the season, while there is still plenty of time to correct them, than to find out too late that the ship has sprung a leak.

By then it may turn out necessary to spend so much time bailing out water, that it results in abandoning ship, which means missing the playoffs.

The Giants cannot afford to do that because they have an engagement with the Chicago Cubs, one which will determine the National League Pennant winner.

As it is, Peavy and Cain will get the opportunity to face the Cubs in the upcoming series beginning this coming Friday, at AT&T Park. I like the fact that San Francisco will first confront the Cubs with the fourth and fifth members of their rotation, because if they can succeed with the lower end, imagine how well they could be expected to do with the upper end.

And if the Giants cannot compete, then they can consider going back to the drawing board.
Until then, keep that drawing board locked up and throw away the key, because the key is pitching and both Cain and Peavy have been infused with a coating of graphite.
Hopefully, they’ll use it to unlock the mysteries of how to stop the Cubs’ offense.
@bellspringsmark

Lucky 7 

Posted: May 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 2 of 3 with The Great One on the mound vs Pirates Jeff Locke. Both men would practically mirror each other for the first three innings.  They would each start with a 1-2-3 inning.  Then put one man on in the second and have another 1-2-3 inning in the third.  The Pirates would strike first in the top half of the fourth.  With Polanco on second and McCutchen on third Francisco Cervelli would rip a double to center scoring both men.  Jake would get out of the inning but the Cuns would be down by 2.  

Jason Heyward would leadoff with a single. Kris Bryant would walk.  Two men on for Rizzo and he sends a fly ball to center for his 11th home run of the season. Just like that the Cubs are up 3-2.  

Arrieta would have a solid top of the fifth but not before walking Locke.  Locke himself would mirror the top half but with giving up another single to Heyward. Jakes top half of the sixth would be perfect.  Ben Zobrist would leadoff the bottom half with a single but Soler would pop out.  Addison Russell would get his first hit of the day with a two run home run putting the Cubs up by 3.  The very next batter Miguel Montero would be hit but this would prompt the home plate umpire Brian Knight to issue warnings to both sides.  Both sides seem confused but it may stem from his earlier ejection of Pitates pitching coach Ray Searage.  This would also bring in a new pitcher Jared Hughes who would walk The Great One.  With two men on, Dexter Fowler would send a soft line drive to left scoring Montero.  Hughes would walk Heyward but would get out of the inning. 

Arrieta would come back out for the seventh with ease.  AJ Schugel would come into the bottom of the seventh give up a walk but get out of the inning.  Jake would come back out for the bottom of the eighth with two K’s and a ground out.  Tommy LaStella would pinch hit for Jake but go down swinging. Fowler, Heyward and Bryant would all single.  Fowler would score on Bryant’s single, Heyward to third but Bryant would be tagged trying to make it a double.  Rizzo would single scoring Heyward and now the Cubs are up 8-2. 

Justin Grimm would come in to finish the game off and he would just that with a 1-2-3 inning.   Arrieta would have another solid quality start with 11 strikeouts in 8 innings.  He would only give up two runs on three hits and walk two batters.   Another one in the books for the Cubs.  They now are a league leading 27 and 8.  Go Cubs Go!   

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

How was your week

Posted: May 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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We had what has to be considered the first upset in the NBA playoffs. On Thursday the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 113-99 to take Game 6 and win that playoffs series 4 games to 2. As Oklahoma City advances to the Western Conference Finals to face the Golden State Warriors the talk turned to what will San Antonio look like next season. The media stupidly wanted an immediate decision from Tim Duncan on if he would be back next season, but of course he didn’t have an answer. Duncan who just turn 40 years of age on April 25th was the #1 pick in the draft by the Spurs in 1997 and has spent the last 19 seasons with the Spurs. Duncan had a down year in 2015-16.San Antonio did what they could to keep Duncan healthy. He played in 61 games and averaged just 25.2 minutes per game which was a career low. Duncan also had his lowest points per game average (8.6) and rebounds per game (7.3) averages in his career. If Duncan does decide to retire he is a sure fire Hall of Fame selection. Duncan won 5 NBA championships with San Antonio and was Finals MVP 3 times. He was a 15 time All-Star and won the MVP of that game 1 time. He was also the league MVP in back to back seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Duncan also won the Rookie of the Year in 1997-98. Besides Duncan the Spurs will also have to wait and see if Manu Ginobili decides to retire. Ginobili will turn 39 on July 28 and just completed his 14th NBA season. Don’t forget Ginobili didn’t start playing in the NBA until he was 25. Ginoblil played professionally in Argentine starting in 1995 before moving to Europe to play in Italy. San Antonio drafted Ginobili drafted in the 2nd round of the 1999 draft, but he choose to stay with his Italian team Kinder Bologna, which he helped win the 2001 Italian Championship, the 2001 and 2002 Italian Cups, and the 2001 Euroleague, where he was named the Euroleague 2000–01 Euroleague Finals MVP.[6] He was also named the Italian League MVP in 2000–01 and 2001–02, and made the Italian League’s All-Star Game three times during this period. Ginobili has won 4 NBA tiles with the Spurs. He is also a 2-time All-Star and was elected 6-Man of the Year in  2008. The 2015-16 season was the first time since his rookie season that Ginobili didn’t average double digit points per game. Will Duncan and Ginobili decide to retire? or will they try to make one more championship run in 2016-17?

Now over in the Eastern Conference it seems as though the Cleveland Cavaliers have been waiting two weeks to find out if they’ll play the Toronto Raptors or Miami Heat in the conference finals. Miami picked up a 103-91 victory on Friday night to force the series to a 7th game. The teams meet Sunday afternoon to decide who will move on t face the Cavaliers. Besides possible to much these playoffs couldn’t of went better for Cleveland. The Cavaliers are a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs with sweeps of the Detroit Pistons in the first round and the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. As the Cavaliers wait for their next opponent you have to wonder what kind of shape that opponent will be in. Hasan Whiteside has a sprained MCL and has already been ruled out of Game 7 against Toronto and who knows if he’ll be ready to play in the conference finals. Luol Deng did play for Miami last night, but took just 5 shots as he’s dealing wit a wrist injury and is less than 100%. If the Heat do advance Deng’s injury will linger through that series. On the Toronto side Jonas Valanciunas left the series in Game 5 with a ankle injury and has been ruled out for the remained of this series. Would that ankle be healthy enough to allow him to play in a series against Cleveland. Also for Toronto Demarre Carroll played just 25 minutes in Game 6 because of a wrist injury. Carroll also took just 4 shots in Game 6. He’ll play in Game 7 and would also play if the Raptors advance, but he’s another player who won’t be 100%. It looks as though no matter which team advances to face Cleveland the Cavaliers are going to have a huge advantage health wise heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.

The NHL is down to just 4 teams and the Tampa Bay Lighting took the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals 3-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It appeared with Steven Stamkos already out for Tampa Bay that Pittsburgh would have an advantage. Then when the Lighting’s Tyler Johnson went knee to knee with the Penguins Chris Kunitz and had to miss some ice time Tampa Bay had to wonder what was next. Sadly for the Lighting what happened next was goaltender Ben Bishop needed to be stretchered off the ice with 7:35 left in the 1st period. It looked as though Bishop caught a skate on the ice and fell awkwardly injuring a knee. It was reported that Bishop’s x-rays where negative for structural damage, but his status for Game 2 in uncertain. Bishop is a Vezina Trophy nominee, but like last seasons playoffs if he’s going to miss time back up  Andrei Vasilevskiy will take over in net. Tampa Bay got out to a 1-0 lead when Alex Killorn scored his 4th goal of the playoffs at 14:46 of the 1st period. The Lighting extended that lead to 3-0 on 2nd period goals by Ondrej Palat at 2:33 of the period and then Jonathan Drouin at 18:25. Pittsburgh picked up it’s only goal of the game in the 2nd period as well when Patric Hornqvist scored at 19:05 of the period. Pittsburgh had 16 shots on goal in the 3rd period, Vasilevskiy turned them all away. For the game he stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced after replacing Bishop. Game 2 is Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Western Conference Finals doesn’t start until Sunday night and that features the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have home ice and have reached the Conference finals by knocking off the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in the 1st round and the #1 seeded Dallas Stars in the 2nd round. San Jose reached the Conference finals by beating the Los Angeles Kings in 5 games and then winning a Game 7 against the Nashville Predators to take that series.

Just to get it a record Dan the Man has picked Pittsburgh to come out of the Eastern conference after they knocked off his Washington Capitals. Dan also likes San Jose to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup finals.

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You can find me on Twitter @Burketime

We played 2!

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Sports Time Radio
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Thanks to the Big Jack for recapping game 1 of the double header.  Game 2 pitts easily rattled John Lackey vs Drew Pomeranz.  Now earlier on The Podcast I picked the Cubs to take game 2.  I really haven’t heard much out of Drew for awhile, so to my surprise he pitched a great game as did John Lackey.  

Lackey would start the game off and retire the first 14 batters he faced through 5 innings.  Pomeranz would give up a single in the first to Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant but would get out of the inning with a double play ball.   He would walk Baez in the second but would cruise through 4 and put two base runners on in the top of the fifth. As I said, Lackey would retire his first 14 batters but on an 0-1 count to catcher Christian Betancourt would give up a monster home run to left.  Betancourt’s eye on the ball out of the playing field would rattle Lackey to give up a single to Pirela but would get out of the inning with out anymore damage.  

Lackey would come into the 6th and strike out the first two batters and get Will Meyers to fly out.  The seventh inning would also be a 1-2-3 inning for him.  Now the Cubs did get a couple base runners in these innings but no one crossed the plate.  Lackey would go into the eighth and give up a leadoff single to Betancourt but would get out of the inning.  

Brad Hand would come into the bottom of the eighth and strikeout the first two batters but would walk Heyward.  With two outs, Kris Brysnt would send one high into the sky shortstop, Alexi Ramirez would at the last second drop it.  Anthony Rizzo would walk to load the bases!  Two outs, bases loaded, Jorge Soler has the chance to put the Cubs in the lead but goes down swinging.  

Travis Wood started the 9th getting Jon Jay to fly out but Maddon would seize the opportunity to bring in Hector Rondon.  He would strikeout Meyers and get Matt Kemp to ground out to end the inning.  Former Cub, Fernando Rodney would come in for a possible save and would give up a lead off single to Javier Baez.  With the infield in, LaStella would send a sharp groundball to third with an opportunity to turn two, they only get the force out at second.  Ryan Kalish would pinch hit for Ross and would ground out to second but with Tommy running the double play is broken up.  Zobrist with two outs and Tommy on second, he can tie the game.  Rodney feeling the pressure goes to a full count but gets former Rays teammate to ground out to him.  What a game!  Now I know the Cubbies lost but you’ve got to love a pitchers duel.  

Lackey would go 8 innings with only 3 hits, 1 run, no walks and 7 strikeouts.  Combined for the 9th inning, Wood and Rondon would put no runners on and close out the game.  Again they didn’t win, but still a great game to watch.  Today just wasn’t thier day and it’s the first time they’ve lost consecutive games this season.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve never seen a Cubs team like this! 

@danzeeeman
The Podcast

It’s a day-nighter (Game 1)

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The San Diego Padres used a couple of Javier Baez errors and a 3-run home run by Brett Wallace to end the Cubs 8-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory in Game 1 of a day night doubleheader.

After extended use of their bullpens last night both teams where hoping to get some innings out of there starting pitcher this afternoon. Kyle Hendricks struggled early on for the Cubs, but settled down to pitch 6 2/3rd innings. Hendricks racked up 8 strikeouts with 1 walk while giving up 6 hits. 2 of the 3 runs Hendricks gave up where earned. Colin Rea lasted just 5 innings for San Diego. Rea gave up 7 hits while allowing 4 runs all of which where earned. He struck out 3 while walking 4. Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Former Cub Carlos Villanueva picked up the win in relief for the Padres and another former Cub Fernando Rodney picked up the save. It was Villanueva”s 1st win of the season and for Rodney it was his 9th save this season. Pedro Strop struggled for the Cubs out of the bullpen. He didn’t record an out while giving up 3 hits, 3 runs and walking 2. Strop also took the Game 1 loss.

Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell each had 2 hits for the Cubs. Zobrist and Russell along with Anthony Rizzo and  Tim Federowicz where credited with RBI’s. Russell Federowicz and Jorge Soler each had a double in the game. Derek Norris had 3 hits in the game for San Diego while Will Myers and Adam Rosales each had 2 hits. Since 2 of the Padres runs where unearned Brett Wallace drove in 3 runs with his 2nd home run of the season and Matt Kemp picked up the other 2 RBI’s for the Padres.

The Cubs will look to start a new winning streak behind John Lackey in the night cap. San Diego counters with Drew Pomeranz on the mound. Fist pitch is schedule for 7:10 p.m.

@burketime
The Podcast

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